Research

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Open AccessArticle

Gendered Perspectives on Intimate Partner Violence: A Comparative Study of General Population, Students and Professionals’ Beliefs

by

Iris Almeida

,

Ana Ramalho

,

Rafaela Morgado

and

Ricardo Ventura Baúto

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(9), 528; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12090528 - 21 Sep 2023

Viewed by 175

Abstract

Domestic violence is a worldwide crime recognized as a severe violation of Human Rights, which includes Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). The studies remark that the asymmetries in the social relations between men and women result in domination dynamics. Thus, this study analyzed the [...] Read more.

Domestic violence is a worldwide crime recognized as a severe violation of Human Rights, which includes Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). The studies remark that the asymmetries in the social relations between men and women result in domination dynamics. Thus, this study analyzed the relationship between gender and IPV beliefs in the general population, university students, and healthcare/safety/justice professionals by comparing IPV legitimization between men and women and with age. The sample was composed by 3413 Portuguese participants, 1551 men (45.4%) and 1826 women (54.6%), aged 18 to 100 (M = 37.97; SD = 18.09), 1936 participants from the general population (56.7%), 866 university students [e.g., healthcare students] (25.4%) and 611 healthcare/safety/justice professionals [e.g., doctors, psychologists, police officers, lawyers] (17.9%). The sample filled out the Scale of Beliefs about Marital Violence (ECVC), a self-report scale on beliefs about IPV. Results confirmed our hypothesis that men have significantly higher levels of IPV legitimization than women. In accordance with our second hypothesis, significant positive correlations were found between age and IPV beliefs. As age increases, older people tend to be more tolerant of IPV, and young people tend to be less endorsing such IPV beliefs. Finally, we found the hypothesis that university students and healthcare/safety/justice professionals have lower levels of beliefs compared with other participants in the general population. Findings show that we need to work hard with the social evolution in men’s and women’s beliefs on IPV, reinforcing the importance of targeting IPV prevention by gender and age in the general population but also in students and professionals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

Open AccessArticle

Communicating through Cyberfeminism: Communication Strategies for the Construction of the International Feminist Strike in Portugal

by

Camila Lamartine

and

Carla Cerqueira

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(9), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12090473 - 25 Aug 2023

Viewed by 991

Abstract

Despite the considerable attention given to how mainstream media portrays feminism and social movements, there remains a notable research gap regarding the exploration of how these movements themselves engage in internal articulation and employ communication strategies to connect with their publics. To examine [...] Read more.

Despite the considerable attention given to how mainstream media portrays feminism and social movements, there remains a notable research gap regarding the exploration of how these movements themselves engage in internal articulation and employ communication strategies to connect with their publics. To examine communications practices of cyberfeminists within the fourth wave of feminism and the 8M movement (feminist strike), this study analyzes the communication platforms utilized by Rede 8 de Março, which mobilizes the strike in Portugal in three dimensions: (1) institutional and internal communication; (2) content production for online dissemination on digital platforms; and (3) mobilization strategies and action repertoires. Specifically, we focus on the years 2020 and 2021, considering the pandemic context, using a combination of netnography and semi-structured interviews with organizing activists. Our findings indicate a significant rise in Instagram’s platform utilization and exploration, concomitant with the establishment of WhatsApp as a central tool for both organizational and internal communication. These observations enhance our scholarly grasp of the intricate communication dynamics inherent in these organizational contexts and feminist movements, thereby offering significant contributions to our understanding of its operational mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

Open AccessArticle

Our Hero and That Kind of Woman: Imaginaries of Sexuality, Masculinity and Femininity in the Discussion of the Rape Allegation against Cristiano Ronaldo in Portugal

by

Júlia Garraio

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080461 - 19 Aug 2023

Viewed by 909

Abstract

Kathlyn Mayorga’s rape allegation against Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo was mostly met in his home country with disbelief, prompting a strong wave of support for the national icon. Mayorga was often perceived as a ‘gold digger’. This article explores how traditional gender [...] Read more.

Kathlyn Mayorga’s rape allegation against Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo was mostly met in his home country with disbelief, prompting a strong wave of support for the national icon. Mayorga was often perceived as a ‘gold digger’. This article explores how traditional gender norms, sex scripts and rape myths underpinned the resignification of the rape allegation into a case of extortion, naturalizing sexual abuse regarding ‘immoral women’. It examines how the intersection of local patriarchal traditions with the neoliberal order produced a morality which normalized the commodification of women’s and men’s bodies as a path to social mobility. It looks at the commodification of Ronaldo’s body, his key to success as a ‘super-body’ whose exceptional sports performance granted him respectability, an exceptional social status and access to women’s sexualized bodies. Then, it examines the construction of Mayorga’s body as a sexualized body with less moral and/or commercial value, operating in an area perceived as indecent (sex as a ‘gold digger’ or sexual transactions as a prostitute) and whose inflicted harm could be compensated through money. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

Open AccessArticle

“We Are Tired”—The Sharing of Unpaid Work between Immigrant Women and Men in Portugal

by

Estefânia Silva

,

Cláudia Casimiro

,

Cristina Pereira Vieira

,

,

,

,

and

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080460 - 18 Aug 2023

Viewed by 955

Abstract

In this article, we intend to understand and discuss how immigrant men and women living in Portugal perceive their contributions to the performance of unpaid work and how they try to deal with the situation of the greater burden on women. To this [...] Read more.

In this article, we intend to understand and discuss how immigrant men and women living in Portugal perceive their contributions to the performance of unpaid work and how they try to deal with the situation of the greater burden on women. To this end, a qualitative methodology was used to conduct an exploratory study with 10 focus groups of immigrant men and women in five regions of the country: North, Centre, Lisbon, Alentejo and Algarve. The participants, 43 females and 27 males, were aged between 19 and 80 years. From the discourse of the immigrant participants in this study, it could be concluded that the division of unpaid work between immigrant women and men is not equal, as their statements evidenced a greater responsibility and overload on women. From a traditional vision of gender roles, a persistent dichotomy of two worlds could be perceived, based on a “naturalized” vision of the social roles of gender and on a distribution grounded in biological differences. In parallel, discourses show a change in the sharing of household chores and childcare. However, this does not always occur regularly and appears very much associated with the entry of women into the paid labour market. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

Open AccessArticle

Social Representations of Trans People in the Workplace

by

José Baptista

,

Dália Costa

and

Sónia P. Gonçalves

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080449 - 09 Aug 2023

Viewed by 916

Abstract

Organizations show tendencies to discriminate against trans people, making them significantly more likely to face barriers in the professional context, where the highest rates of discrimination against trans people are reported. This study intends to acknowledge the SRs that are associated with trans [...] Read more.

Organizations show tendencies to discriminate against trans people, making them significantly more likely to face barriers in the professional context, where the highest rates of discrimination against trans people are reported. This study intends to acknowledge the SRs that are associated with trans people in the workplace since the Theory of Social Representations suggests that Social Representations (SRs) are useful to regulate perceptions and the way we act in the world. Also, through Intergroup Contact Theory, by suggesting that contact with a minority population will reduce the associated prejudice, we also intend to understand the impact contact has on SRs. By applying a questionnaire between 20 January and 21 February 2022 on a random sample of 217 people, and respective analyses in MAXQDA 2022 and EVOC 2005 software, the results indicate that the SRs most associated with trans people in a professional context are discrimination, normality, equality, difficulties, and prejudice. Although the term “discrimination” was the most mentioned, it is worth underlining the appearance of positive (and neutral) terms, which may, according to Intergroup Contact Theory, be justified by contact since the majority of the sample (57.6%, n = 125) have had contact with trans people. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

Open AccessArticle

Gendered Micropolitics in Academic Work Environments: Uncovering Microaggressions during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by

Mónica Lopes

,

Virgínia Ferreira

and

Caynnã Santos

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 443; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080443 - 04 Aug 2023

Viewed by 390

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought increased attention to the existing gender asymmetries in academia, which have been extensively studied in the literature. Using the analytical lens of “gendered academic citizenship”, this paper takes a micropolitical perspective to examine how the pandemic has impacted [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought increased attention to the existing gender asymmetries in academia, which have been extensively studied in the literature. Using the analytical lens of “gendered academic citizenship”, this paper takes a micropolitical perspective to examine how the pandemic has impacted the dynamics of academic work, specifically focusing on the often-overlooked aspect of everyday interactions in the work environment. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis of survey data collected from 1750 lecturers and researchers in Portuguese higher education and research institutions, the study uncovers that women, especially those who are younger, single, have specific caregiving responsibilities, and are in the early stages of their careers, were more vulnerable to experiencing “everyday” microaggressions such as silencing, exclusion, belittlement, being ignored, lack of validation, and invisibility compared to men during the pandemic. These findings suggest that, while the marginalization of women in academia is a longstanding issue, the virtual work model has created a platform for the expression of subtle forms of disempowerment and discrimination against women. These dynamics are perpetuated within the micropolitics of organizations, shaping subjective feelings of belonging and circulating differential levels of recognition within academic institutions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

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Open AccessArticle

Gender and Politics: A Descriptive and Comparative Analysis of the Statutes of Brazilian and Portuguese Political Parties

by

Maria Cecilia Eduardo

,

Maria Helena Santos

and

Ana Lúcia Teixeira

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(8), 434; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12080434 - 01 Aug 2023

Viewed by 636

Abstract

This paper presents a descriptive and comparative analysis of the statutes of Brazilian and Portuguese political parties regarding women’s political participation. The main objective was to evaluate if and in what way women are included in the statutory guidelines. By means of the [...] Read more.

This paper presents a descriptive and comparative analysis of the statutes of Brazilian and Portuguese political parties regarding women’s political participation. The main objective was to evaluate if and in what way women are included in the statutory guidelines. By means of the document analysis technique, we analyzed the statutes of political parties represented in the Chamber of Deputies in the case of Brazil and the Assembly of the Republic in the case of Portugal. Our research hypothesis is that although the explanatory potential of party ideology has declined as political parties from different positions on the spectrum have started to adopt discourses in favor of women’s political participation, left-wing parties remain more inclusive in their texts. We could observe that in both countries, leftist parties remain the main encouragers of women’s political participation, at least in their statutory rules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

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Open AccessArticle

From Late Bloomer to Booming: A Bibliometric Analysis of Women’s, Gender, and Feminist Studies in Portugal

by

,

,

,

and

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(7), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12070396 - 06 Jul 2023

Viewed by 870

Abstract

Women’s, Gender, and Feminist Studies (WGFS) in Portugal emerged relatively late compared to other European countries, and a systematic quantitative analysis of Portuguese research in this field is lacking. This article addresses this gap by conducting a pioneering bibliometric analysis of WGFS publications [...] Read more.

Women’s, Gender, and Feminist Studies (WGFS) in Portugal emerged relatively late compared to other European countries, and a systematic quantitative analysis of Portuguese research in this field is lacking. This article addresses this gap by conducting a pioneering bibliometric analysis of WGFS publications by scholars based in Portugal between 1995 and 2021, utilizing data from the Web of Science. The analysis reveals several key findings, including a significant growth in WGFS productivity in the 2010s, a high level of internationalization of Portuguese production, and the increasing prominence of specific themes and theoretical perspectives, such as LGBTQIA+ studies and intersectionality. By examining the trajectory of Portuguese scholarship in WGFS since the 1990s, this study provides valuable insights and opens important avenues for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

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Open AccessArticle

Violence against Women: Attachment, Psychopathology, and Beliefs in Intimate Partner Violence

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,

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and

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(6), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12060346 - 12 Jun 2023

Viewed by 714

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a violation of women’s human rights. Attachment is an IPV risk or vulnerability factor, in part because of the role that it plays in interpersonal relationships. An insecure attachment can predispose women victims to psychological maladjustment, which can [...] Read more.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a violation of women’s human rights. Attachment is an IPV risk or vulnerability factor, in part because of the role that it plays in interpersonal relationships. An insecure attachment can predispose women victims to psychological maladjustment, which can reflect psychopathology. Likewise, our general society reveals beliefs that support and legitimize IPV. Thus, this study examined the relationship between adult attachment, psychopathology, and IPV beliefs. Our sample comprises 158 women IPV victims, aged between 18 and 73 years old. The psychological assessment tools Experiences in Close Relationships, Brief Symptom Inventory, and Scale of Beliefs about Marital Violence were used. All ethical issues had been taken due to the sensitive nature of the involved data. The results showed that most victims had a secure attachment style, and it may be an indicator that these women possibly had safe experiences with an attachment figure leading to reduced anxious state attachment in adult relationships. The results show a positive association between adult attachment and psychopathology, as well as between attachment and beliefs about violence. Globally, attachment is related to psychopathology and IPV beliefs. These results allow aid professionals and institutions to have deep knowledge about adult attachment as a risk or vulnerability factor for IPV and the adverse consequences of this phenomenon. IPV requires urgent attention since is the greatest threat to the health and safety of women around the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

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Open AccessArticle

Trans Women’s Body Self-Image and Health: Meanings and Impacts of Sex Work

by

,

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and

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(4), 219; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12040219 - 06 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1091

Abstract

This paper aims to present and discuss the results of a qualitative study conducted in the city of Porto, Portugal, aiming to understand the self-determination process and the meanings and impacts of sex work on trans women’s body self-image and health. Between January [...] Read more.

This paper aims to present and discuss the results of a qualitative study conducted in the city of Porto, Portugal, aiming to understand the self-determination process and the meanings and impacts of sex work on trans women’s body self-image and health. Between January and July 2019, six individual interviews were performed with participants aged between 23 and 57 and then analyzed using thematic analysis. The results suggest that the participants were subjected to several experiences of discrimination and violence since childhood, negatively impacting their health and social integration. In their narratives, a conflict between the idea of an idealized body, congruent with gender identity, and the idea of a profitable body, compatible with the requirements of sex work clients, emerged. As a consequence, several tensions are experienced, both in personal and professional domains. Additionally, the difficulties felt in accessing the National Health System, to receive specialized support and treatment, increase the risk of being exposed to clandestine procedures, which exacerbates their vulnerability. The findings point to the importance of comprehending trans women sex workers’ needs and reanalyzing how their health conditions might be improved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

Review

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Open AccessReview

Gendering the Political Economy of Smallholder Agriculture: A Scoping Review

by

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,

and

Soc. Sci. 2023, 12(5), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci12050306 - 17 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 743

Abstract

Gender plays a prominent role in shaping the practices and experiences of smallholding farming households. This scoping review seeks to chart and analyze how gender is used in the existing literature on the political economy of smallholder agriculture. The aim of this review [...] Read more.

Gender plays a prominent role in shaping the practices and experiences of smallholding farming households. This scoping review seeks to chart and analyze how gender is used in the existing literature on the political economy of smallholder agriculture. The aim of this review is to first identify the extent to which gender is addressed as a unit of analysis in this body of literature, and second, to identify when and how gender is incorporated in this body of literature. The limited work on this topic may be due to a variety of factors, the most notable of which is the failure of political economy literature to attend to the small scale and the limited attention paid to the social dynamics of women and men in farming households. Classical political economy frameworks tend to dismiss micro-processes and trends in favor of macro-structural conditions. Included articles approach gender in two distinct ways: empirical (which frames gender as a binary unit of analysis, i.e., man–woman) and analytic (a construction that operates in different ways in different contexts). This review provides a nuanced understanding of how gendered identities produce and are produced by political economy, and how political economy shapes and is shaped by gender and household dynamics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Directions in Gender Research—2nd Edition)

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